Why Every Gardener Needs Houseplants (Even If They Think They Don’t)
Hey gardeners, the weather is cold, the daylight feels sparse, & planting season feels like a million days away. How are we holding up? If you are just itching to get back in the garden and sink your hands into some soil, we think we might have just the thing to get you through… houseplants!
I know, I know, it’s not the same. However, in this blog, we will share a few reasons why houseplants for gardeners in winter make perfect sense. At the end of this reading, if you still aren’t convinced, well, that’s okay. We’ll see you back here in a couple of months when you start dreaming of your next big outdoor project!
Reasons Why Houseplants are A Gardener’s Dream Come True
Year-Round Enjoyment
One of the most challenging aspects of being a gardener in a northern region is the dormancy and the eager anticipation of the next growing season. If you have an itch to garden that you just can’t satisfy, a few houseplants might be just what you need! While gardening and indoor plant care have distinct differences, they share a common core passion.
Cultivating indoor plants satisfies the same instincts as gardening: nurturing, growth, experimentation. Thus, houseplants allow you to enjoy your favorite hobby even in the chilliest of seasons! You might be surprised at how your outdoor growing instincts come into play for your new plant babies!
It’s Actually Less Work
Okay, our houseplant veterans might fight us on this one, but when you look at the big picture, houseplants have fewer challenges than outdoor gardening entails. For one, you never have to worry about the weather! With gardening, you must keep track of temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns.
But when growing houseplants, you essentially create your own perfect climate! You simply scope out the best placement for sunlight, potentially increase humidity levels depending on how dry your air is, and get on a regular watering schedule. Once you tackle these tasks, the plants really do the rest of the work themselves! Whereas with gardening, you have to prune, spray for pests, water, and fertilize, all on the proper timelines. That’s all part of the enjoyment, of course, but winter is a period to prioritize rest; let the hard work ensue in spring!
It Makes You A Better Gardener
You know that old saying, ‘practice makes perfect’? Well, nobody’s perfect, but we can’t help but feel like the more time you spend experimenting and cultivating nature, the better you will get at it! Caring for houseplants teaches you key skills that can easily be carried over into the outdoor garden once the weather warms up.
For one, you are up close and personal with the plants, and you start to become more in tune with their needs; drooping leaves often signal thirst. Crunchy leaves are a cry for more moisture and humidity. While garden plants can’t really be moved around too much once planted, houseplants give you the ability to experiment with lighting and move the plants around!
Did We Convince You? Maybe These Leafy Beauties Will Do The Trick…
Are you ready to bring your green thumb indoors? Here are a few of our favorite easy-care houseplants to get you started:
Pink Cyclamen
First on the list is one that might surprise you…But if you are feeling blue and want some bold, bright blooms to pick you up, the Pink Cyclamen is an excellent choice! Featuring unique, delicately veined foliage with vibrant, bubblegum-pink flowers, it's hard to feel sad around this gorgeous specimen. These plants are often marketed around the holidays as a great gift or table centerpiece, but they actually provide beauty and bloom multiple times throughout the year! Cyclamen are considered relatively easy to grow; they just need good drainage, bright indirect sunlight, and lower temperatures to thrive.
Neon Pothos
Next on the list of indoor favorites for our outdoor plant enthusiasts is the Neon Pothos. If you find joy in pruning and fast growth, the Neon Pothos will have you smiling from ear to ear! This highlighter-hued vine is low-maintenance, grows like a weed, and brings a waterfall of life into any space it inhabits, provided there is good sunshine and moderate watering. Pothos are known to be incredibly resilient, forgiving of neglect, and adaptable to a wide range of conditions.
Key Lime Tree
Next on our list of plants for gardeners is a bit on the trickier side, but if you’re up for a challenge, we certainly think it's worth a try! The Key Lime Tree brings you the dopamine rush of growing something you can consume! If you are big on vegetable and fruit gardening in the spring, Key Lime Trees are a great option for you! Citrus Trees aren’t inherently hard to grow indoors, but they do require specific conditions to thrive. These fruiting trees thrive in lots of bright light (ideally 6-8 hours), high humidity, and regular fertilization during the growing seasons. The best part about this one is, you can transfer it to your outdoor garden collection come springtime!
Hoya Macrophylla Variegata
Last on our list of indoor plants we think gardeners will love is the lesser-known but incredibly breathtaking Hoya Macrophylla Variegata. If you are patient (which you likely are because gardening requires a lot of it!), growing a Hoya will be extremely rewarding for you. These succulent-like plants are slower-growing, and with proper care, they produce the most unique, rounded blooms that are so intricate they almost appear artificial. The oval-shaped, waxy leaves are also uniquely beautiful. Place your hoya in a hanging basket or give it a trellis to climb, and watch in amazement as the plant transforms any indoor space.
Shop Indoor Plants To Fulfill Your Planting Itch This Winter
Whether you’re fighting the winter blues or simply can’t wait to watch your landscape come to life, houseplants are a great gateway hobby for outdoor gardeners to find enjoyment in the winter season. Explore our extensive selection of houseplants online today! Or, if you’re ready, start shopping for your spring garden and select a ship date for spring.